Ionizing retort



Sept. 28 1926. LSULZM l l. W. HENRY IONIZING RETORT Filed Nov. 2. 1925 atented Sept.. 28, 1926..

iran

IRA W. HENRY, 0F GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-TWENTIETEI T0 EDWARD S. BEACH, OF RIDGEFIELD, CONNECTICUZT; ONE-TENTH T0 COURTLND LINKROUM, OF HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY; ANI) ONE-TENTH TO ARTHUR WOODS,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

romaine nn'roiar.

Application filed November 2, 1925. Serial No. 66,128.A

, rlhis invention relates to an ionizing retort for use in practising my new` method of manufacturing gases set forth in my application Serial No. 66,129,'of even date here-.

with, filed Nov. 2, 1925, and my newmethod of manufacturing benzol set forth in my application Serial No. 66,130, of even date herewith, filed Nov. 2, 1925.

The object of this present invention is to produce a partially closed ionizing retort in which hydrocarbonaceous material, commonly bituminous coal, is gasified or vaporized and in'which gaseous particles of the Vapor are ionized by simultaneous heat and energy of a high frequency oscillating field which is also a heating field.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and illustrating the present invention, my new retort structure is shown in vertical central elevation in conduit connection with a gas scrubber and gas condenser, both shown in vertical central elevation, the retort being electrically connected with a source of alternating current and the electrical apparatus being shown diagrammatically. f

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates an upright, cross seetionally cylindrical retort casing of boiler iron or other suitable material. It is provided at its upper end with a charging chute 2 the lower end of which dis'. charges into vthe top of the retort. The discharge end of the, chute is provided with a gas-tight forming door 3 which is closed after the retort is charged, the material with which it is charged being supported ou a solid bottom 4 elevated preferably, but not necessarily, above a preheating chamber 5 that contains, in the form shown, at its bottom portion, a grate 6 for supporting fuel 7. Thelower portion of the retort is provided` with a doorway 8 for introduction of the fuel 7 and there is an ash pit 9 below the ln accordance with this invention, the retort casing 1 is lined with fire brick 14 between the solid bottom 4 and the upper portion of the retort, wherein the topv space 4a forms a gas chamber through which the charge falls to the bottom 4 of the retort which is filledup with the charge within' the yspace enclosed by the fire bricks.

rlhe fire brick are formed with communieating -holes in the horizontal direction through their bodies and there is located within these holes; that is, within the fire bricks, an electric secondarycurrent circuit conductor 15 covered with asbestos 16, the so covered electric circuit wire 15 being arranged in a coil. Thus, the wire itself is insulated by its asbestos covering and the so covered wire or conductor is contained within the fire brick so that the charge does not come into contact with the covered circuit wire or conductor which is spaced apart from the interior fire brick surface of the retort by the intervening brick. rifhe ends of the coil conductor 15 are brought into insulated support through the vertical side wall of the retort with suitable high tension insulators 17, one above the other. The under end of the conductor coil 16 leading from the under insulator 1,7 is, exteriorly of the retort, indicated by 16a. The upper end of the coil conductor 16 is, exteriorly of the ret-ort where it leads from the upper insulator 17, indicated by 16".

An extraneous hydrogen gas supply pipe 18 leads into the under portion of the charge containing chamber above its bottom 4 from an extraneous gas container 19 and is provided with a regulating valve 20.

rfhe conductor 16a is electrically connected' about 10,000. .The secondary transformer coil 24 is electrically connected by a conductor 25 with an electric condenser 26 which is connected by a conductor 27 with a copper electrode 28, the bottom of which contacts'with the upper surface of the mer.v

cury 22. The primary transformer coil 24a is in electric connection with a brush 30 of an alternating current generator. Another l brush is in electric connection with the primary transformer coil. The primary conductor is indicated by 31. In operation, the primary conductor coil is given a voltage of 2200. The current employed is a high frequency, oscillating current. In operation Ian electric, arc is formed between the copper electrodes 21 and 28 at their contact with the mercury, the arc producing oscillations which'etfect the frequency of the current.

In operation, hydrocarbon vapor generated from the charge andaccumulating in the upper space 4 of the retort flows out of the retort through a conduit 32 which discharges downwardly into the top of a g'as scrubber 33, the underrportion of which is` provided with a conduit 34: which has a gas pressure gauge 35 and conveys the ionized and scrubbed hydrocarbon vapor into the upper portion of a condensing coil 36 in Ia tank 37 provided with a water inlet pipe 40 and an escape pipe. The coil 36 discharges the scrubbed, ionized hydrocarbon vapor into a suitable receiver 38; the discharge end portion of the coil being provided with cut-off valve 39. Conduit 32, between the retortand the scrubber, is provided with a dependent pipe '40@ having a shut-off valve 41, for use in making tests of the hydrocarbon vapor'generated and`ionized in the retort. The foot of -the scrubber is provided with a valved clean out itube 42.

While hydrogen gas and other xed gases are not liquefied at ordinary temperatures and pressures, yet, when hydrogen gas comsol bines Withcarbon to form any of the hydrocarbon series. the resultant gas canv be Aliquefied by cooling below its particular.

boiling point; the

vention whether pertaining to ap' arat-us or to method of generating hydrocar on vapor from hydrocarbonaceous material. or to 'method of manufacturing benzol is the prov duction of hydrocarbon oil from either anthraoite coal or bituminous coal or from 'other suitable carbonaceous material.l Such oils are useful in various arts and if the oil is benzol it is useful as a motor fuel.

Coal, especially bituminous coal, contains a large proportion of carbon and by my invention may be treated in such a manner as to supply a required additionalv amount of hydrogen gas to that normally contained in coal. By my invention, when it is restricted to the production of benzol, the benzol is produced as the main product.

Heretofore benzol has been produced vfrom coal as a by-product in the manufacture of coke, being thus produced by hydrogen already in the coal in its naturalstate com bining with the carbon,

admixture of approximately 10% of lime-` stone of the same size as the powdered coal.

The electric current is of the alternating type andmay be produced either from a commercial, alternating electric circuit or electric dynamo on the premises. The current is transformed from its primary potential of about 2200 volts'to 10,000 volts; and ythe current is conducted through an electric arc produced by said copper electrodes in the mercury bath enclosed in its iron container. The electric arc produces oscillations which with the electric condenser secure the necessary frequency of approximately 50,000- periods a second. The circuit controlling the 'current is protected by the usual necessary fuses and switches for controlling the same.

Adjacent the retort, an exterior container of, broadly considered, any desired hydrocarbon vapor is provided for the introduction of the extraneous or supplemental gas.

question` ofV pressure,\ is varied according to the 'requirement of `other than atmospheric pressure, is not then l the product; but, of course, the retort may i, be used for any desired purpose without departure from this invention.

The use of limestone in the production of benzol is not essential but is economical and otherwise desirable.

It is not essential, but I have found it desirable to preheat the charge to be treated by means of a fire in the grate.

When and if benzol is the ultimate product and limestone is used in mixture with the coal, I preheat'the charge by means of .the lire in the grate to a temperature of approximately 900 F., and then when the charge has reached the desired temperature, the electric current is turned on through the -secondary coil within the re brick with'the resultant-effect of disintegrating or yionizcillations.

recitare tends to retard evolution of the vapor fromv the coal and tends to retard the outow of the light gases generated from the limestone and thus tends to effect more complete lonization. y Y

lt has been found th-at limestone when intimately mixed with coal rich in hydrocarbonsxand having a high oxygen content com- `mences to decompose ata temperature lower than the resinous and other matter contained in the coal, and that when this action occurs it slightly retards evolution of hy-. drocarbon gases given 0E by the coal, thus causing them to become more stable, decreasing the residue of distillation and increasing the output of benzol.

The limestone, as above indicated, facilitates the ionization. The Vcycle of operation, according to my experience, takes practically about fifteen minutes per long ton (2240 pounds) ofcoal, but varies with dif- ,ferent grades of coal. The time is easily determined by an examination of the resultant gas taken offat said test cock. The gas obtained from the retort is passed through the scrubber to free it from free carbon, asphalt, tarry oils or other 'objectionable material and is finally condensed to produce the desired liquid.

Apparently the energy of the secondary high frequency heating coil 16 is exerted directly on the particles of carbon suspended in the generated gases, such carbon particles being partial conductors of the electric current; and the high frequency oscillations evidently ionize such particles and thus place them in a receptive condition for chemical combination with the introduced, free hydrogen. rlhe heat produced from the secondary high frequency and heating electric coil installed in the fire brick` would of itself heat the charge and gases, but in some locations it is more economical to preheat the charge by a fire in the grate than by use of the electric current employed in connection with the retort or otherwise. llt is yobvious, that electric preheating of the charge could be substituted for the fire on the grate, if so desired. By heating the preheated charge by the heat emanating from the secondary coil, the ionization or change in molecular condition of the coal and limestone, or of the coal alone if the limestone is not used, is more rapidly effected. As a possible explanation of the effect of the high frequency, it is suggested that there may be a quantitative relation between the rate of vibration of the moleculesof the hydrocarbons on the one hand, and, on the other hand', of thev frequency of the electrical s- I find in practice that the use of the apparatus, as'illustrated anddescribed, bituminous4 coal is readily and quickly converted in consequence of heat and ionization, obviously evolving a hydrocarbonaceous vapor which in its ionized state combines with the admitted hydrogen into a benzol vapor, and then goes to the gas scrubber and condenser. This is one example of results that can be eected by use of the described invention.

A rlhe products of combustion of any suitable; fuel used on the grat/e of the preheating apparatus go to the air through the chlmney or flue 11. removing doorway 10 is ordinarily provided with an air admission opening and damper, as usual in furnace construction. Even if an electric current heater were substituted for the preheating means illustrated, it would be ordinarily unnecessary .and noneconomical to consume such electric heater current as a source of heat auxiliary to that produced by the high frequency oscillating field of the secondary current conductor 15. In practice, however, the preheating apparatus, whatever its form, may be used continuously during the heating of the material to be distilled.

lt would seem that the high frequency, oscillating field effects disassociation of molecules in lthe gaseous vapor given off by the material in its heated condition and changes The door for the ash` the polarity of the electrons. Considering i the effects of said high frequency oscillating field which is alsoL a heating field, by light.A

of the electron theory, it may be that the positive electrons change their polarity in the electric field in which they vibrate and are attracted into chemical combination with electrons in the hydrocarbon gas introduced from its extraneous source into the material within the retort chamber. v

What lt claim is:

L An ionizing retort for distillation of hydrocarbonaceous or other suitable material having a solid bottom; thereabove a charge receiving chamber, a 'charge supplying means, means for gas-tightly sealing the charge supplying means, and a gas eduction port; the retort having adjacent its bottom a doorway for removal of the residue of distillation; and the retort having above its bottom a fire brick wall containing a secondary transformer coil in combination with a primary transformer coil; an electric current condenser and a mercury bath container; the secondary transformer coil circuit conductrs being severally connected with an electrode in contact with the `mercury bath.

2. In the combination set forth in claim 1, means for preheating the Yretort bottom and charge.

3. In the combination set forth in claim 1, an exterior gas container in conduit connection with the receiving chamber of the retort.

4. In the combination -set forth in claim 1,

former coil the terminals of which are connected with alternating current supply" means.

6. An ionizin retort for distillation and ionization of distillable and ionizable. ma-

terial, the retort including an intake for the material to be distilled andrionized, an outlet for the products of such distillation and ionization; and apparatus for creating Within the restort a high frequency oscillating electric'and heating field effective for distillation and ionization. v v

7. The combination of a retort for treatment of material With apparatus for creat- 1ng and maintaining in the retort chamber, Vduring a retorting vo eration, a high frequency, oscillating an electric heatin field, effective of physico-chemical changes 1n constituents of the material treated.

'8. In apparatus for distilling hydrocarbonaceous material and ionizing the gaseous product of distillation, the combination of a retorthaving anpinlet for the mater'al, an

` `outlet for gaseous products of disti lation 4,0 'formerelectrically connected with said conaiid a 'secondary electric conductor; a transductor; a source of alternating current electricity for the transformer; an electric current condenser one side of which 1s electriv cally connected with the secondary coil of lthe transformer and thefother side of which is connected with current frequency creating onda means; said current frequency creating means electrically connected with the seccurrent conductor;` a scrubber in;I conduit connection with" the retort for re-y ception of ionized gaseous products Iof disneoraia.

9. In apparatus for distilling liydrocarbonaceous material and ionizing the gaseous product of distillation, the combination of a retort havi g an inlet for the material, an outlet for gaseous products of distillation and a secondary electric conductor; a source of alternating current electricity for the transformer; an electriccurrent condenser one side of which is electrically connected with the secondary coil of the transformer and the other side of which is connected with current frequency creating means; said current frequency creating means electrically connected Witli a secondary current conductor; a scrubber in conduit connection with the retort for reception ofy ionized gaseous products of distillation; and, in conduit connection with the scrubber, a gas condensing apparatus; and means for preheat- 'ing a charge in the retort.

10. In apparatus for distilling hydrocarl bonaceous material and ionizing the gaseous product of distillation, the combination of a retort having an inlet for the` material, an outlet for` 4gaseous products of distillation and a secondary electric conductor; a source of alternating vcurrent electricity for the and the other side of which is connected' with current frequency creatingmeans; said transformer; an electric current condensercurrent frequency creating meanselectrically connected with a secondary current conductor; a scrubber in conduit co tion with the retort for reception of ionize gaseous products of distillation; and, 1n conduit connection with the scrubber, a gas condensing apparatus; the transformer be-4 ing connected with said source of alternating current electricity by a conductor of a primary current of about 2000 volts, the transformer being 'effectiveto transform the' rimary current into a secondary current of) about 10,000 volts for said secondary conductor, and said current fre- 'quency creating means being operative to effect a frequency of amont 50,000 periods aisecond.y I Signed at New AYork cit IRA W. HENRY.

, in the countyv f of New York and State of ew York. tillation; and, in conduit connection with.' the scrubber, a gas condensing apparatus.' 

